Planning an 18Th Birthday Part on a Limited Budget

Hey C.. My oldest just turned 18. My boys just really don't enjoy the b'day party thing. They attend a lot of them for their friends, but there are many other things they would rather do when it comes to their own. We have always been pretty strict on our children. We've always had a lot of rules and standards. Right before his 18th b'day we talked to him about giving more freedom. He's always been a great kid so this was easy for us. We also felt that with college comming up he needed to start learning how to make more of his own decisions. He loved the idea! He is still loving it. It is so great to have him come in and run ideas past us. We give suggestions only when he asks. He continues to make great grades, excel in his sports and music, and is so much more excited about it all. We called his 18th The Comming of Age Day. We gave him money in a card, so he could do something with his friends. It was a celebration not only of his birth but of his newly earned independance. He continues to respect all our house rules, as well as each person living here. He just does it all with new excitement. There is a lot that could be done with this theme, but we kept it fairly simple. I did wrap a new checkbook and pen set for him to open. He is now responsible for managing his own checking account. I put a certain $$ amount in each month. He then pays for his lunch at school his gas and insurance, and uses this money for dates and fun. I am amazed that he is actually saving money out of my deposit. It's a small amount of money so he has to be frugal! Enjoy the 18TH!! M.

I like Melissa's suggestions.
But if you must throw him a party, why not a back yard nighttime theme. You can have a Luau in the backyard with tiki torches and all. You can get the supplies on orientaltrading.com for a great price. You can do virgin pina coladas and daiquiris. You can be the bartender and also bring out finger foods from time to time. If you have a pool in your backyard, that's even better, you can make it a pool luau party. This will help keep people out of your house and let you see everyone all at once. You could probably rent an I-pod deck plus speakers and have him play His favorite music from his I-pod.

Or you can have an adult dinner party for him and two or three of his closest friends. That way he knows that he is entering into adulthood with such a grown affair, but still have his cohorts to make him not feel awkward. You can send the other sibling away for the night to make it feel like it is really grown up. Have a cocktail hour: sparkling water with berries in it, to give it flavor, sparkling cider, all served in champagne flutes. Ginger ale served in bourbon glasses. If you have martini glasses you can use this recipe for a virgin martini (1 part cranberry juice, 1 part lemonade, one part ginger ale and optional-garnish with slice of lime). Fix the dinning room up with all the lavish place settings and optional-place cards. You can pay the 16 year old to be the waiter and bring each dish out when it is called for. The only decoration that will be needed is the table setting and a centerpiece that will be replaced with food. His birthday cake can come out last after the coffee and tea have been served. After they eat the cake, they can refill their coffee or tea and take it into the living room where everyone can continue to talk, while the sixteen year old cleans up the table and brings the centerpiece back to the center of it. People will then leave at their leisure or you can give your son some money so he can go out with his friends for sort of an after party somewhere. You do not have a lot of money so you give him enough for himself. Make sure you have an after five/cocktail dress code.

Happy birthday to your son.

Good Luck and God Bless,
R.

ask him what he wants to do

Camping would be awesome for his age group